Higher education can go global with video

The emerging global marketplace and steady improvement of economies and workforces across the world have made internationalization an increasingly important part of higher education.

Although many study abroad programs have been in existence for decades, the importance of recruiting internationally and providing global, cultural experiences for domestic students has increased significantly over the past few years.

Unfortunately, the ongoing economic crunch has not spared higher learning institutions. Despite the belief that colleges and universities are “recession-proof” due to people flocking back to school when jobs are unavailable, the dearth of public funds due to government deficits and the decrease in charitable donations are putting the pinch on colleges.

A recent article in the Chronicle for Higher Learning discusses how many schools are dealing with their budget crises – they’re cutting their funding for international programs.

Instead of cutting budgets for international programs, or cutting the programs altogether, could these colleges instead be looking for ways to make them work with technologies like video teleconferencing (VTC). VTC can effectively reduce some of the need for international travel without dampening international cooperation and recruiting.

By embracing VTC at colleges and universities, admissions staff could continue to meet and recruit students from other countries without ever having to board a plane. Teachers could be given global reach by broadcasting research, lectures and presentations to colleges and universities across the globe. International professors could even be brought into the classroom for lectures and work to expose students to new cultures.

As the article states, it will be difficult for those institutions who slow down on international work. Technologies such as VTC can help minimize the gaps between the haves and have-nots in international education.

VTC is breaking down the walls separating colleges and universities across the globe. Now that’s a new way of spreading higher learning.

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